I am sitting here wondering after the week end blitz by the fighting Dems, Bottom line is republicans suck and their voting records prove it.
http://www.vawatchdog.org/...
In response to Theresa thank you for this insight:
it should be one of many "Platform Items" but my point is that republicans take the "military and vets for granted" that a extra focus needs to be made into their "voting base" yes, there are many issues that need to be addressed, Uninsured americans, Immigration, Congressional oversight, corruption both democratic and republican members, the Iraq War, NSA data bases, deficits, etc yes there are many issues, that need attn but I am a disabled vet and I know that veterans and military vote for republicans and I think they need to be educated on why they and all Americans should vote domocratic, that there is no good reason for voting for Republicans, they are harmful to our health and wallets unless you are ultra rich like Paris Hilton and friends. Mike
The republican's voting record speaks for itself on Veterans issues for this past 2 years, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) issues a compilation of how ALL elected officials voted in the House and Senate for the issues that affect veterans. I wonder how the officials in your state did, I imagine no better than mine the numbers rove from a high of 42% for Senator Lindsey Graham to the normal 0 for most republicans. The only 100 ratings I saw on the list were for oh my god "Democrats" no don't tell me they have a better voting records for caring for disabled veterans and veterans in general than do the "compassionate conservatives?"
This weeks "Fighting Dems" diary from Eric Massa and crew focused on PTSD and the lack of compassion on the republican parties response to this issue - http://securingamerica.com/...
Then General Wesley Clark speaking in Iowa on the 12th spoke about the need for more focus on PTSD here - http://securingamerica.com/... and here http://www.vawatchdog.org/...
The Government Accounting Office (GAO) released a report on May 6th that the republicans are deriding as being wrong, yet the facts speak for themselves they are dealing with it wrong - http://www.gao.gov/... this report deals with active duty members, not even the veterans, the record for veterans mental health care is even worse.
The republicans have authorized the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to review the rukes for awarding PTSD claims and the compensation that disabled veterans from PTSD receive, there is a serious attempt to reduce the financial compensation these honorable veterans will receive in the future. http://www.vawatchdog.org/...
The Veteran Affairs department is seriously in trouble in even getting veterans in for appointments to see mental health professionals http://www.vawatchdog.org/... it shows that the VA's own Under Secretary for Health Dr Frances Murphy has made public statements about this.
It is time for all Democratic candidates to use this RECORD of abysmal failure on the Republicans part, to show voters, especially the voters that the republicans take for granted military and veterans and their families for granted that the Democrats have the track record of voting for supporting their "problems" and their agenda items, and that they need and must vote with their wallets and concious in 2006 and 2008 and get some sanity back in DC when it comes to veterans issues and health care issues that affect them, it is one thing to spend lot's of money on the "toys of war" bombs and bullets, it's another to ignore the men and women and their families that make the wats possible, the active duty members and veterans.